Abstract

Effects of reduced salinity on the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and the ammonia-N excretion rate (AER) of scallopChlamys farreri (3.2–5.9 cm in shell height, 0.147–1.635 g in soft tissue dry weight) were studied in laboratory from March 21, 1997 to April 16, 1997. Under the controlled conditions of reduced salinity from 31.5 to 15.0 and ambient temperature 17°C and 23°C, the concentrations of dissolved oxygen and ammonia-N were determined by the Winkle method and the hypobromite method, respectively. Results showed that with controlled reduced salinity, the mean values of the OCR were 2.17 mg/(g.h) at 17°C, and 2.86 mg/(g.h) at 23°C and that the mean values of the AER were 178.0 μg/(g.h) at 17°C and 147.0 μg/(g.h) at 23°C. The OCR and the AER decreased with reducing salinity from 31.5 to 15.0 both at 17°C and 23°C. The effects of reduced salinity on the OCR and the AER of scallopC. farreri could be represented by the allometric equation and the exponential equation, respectively.

Key words

scallop salinity oxygen consumption rate ammonia-N excretion rate

Contribution No. 3295 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Project supported by the National Ministry of Science and Technology of China and by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Grant No. 96-922-02-04 and KZ951-A1-102-02.